Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the Indiana Pacers’ NBA Finals Game 7 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, June 22.
On Monday, June 23, Haliburton had surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. After which, Haliburton took to social media to send a message to fans.
‘Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown,’ Haliburton wrote, while posting a photo of himself in a hospital recovery bed. ‘The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.’
He later apologized to Pacers fans for the disappointing end to the season.
‘Indy, I’m sorry. If any fan base doesn’t deserve this, it’s y’all. But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don’t doubt for a second that y’all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours,’ Haliburton wrote.
Haliburton is expected to miss significant playing time, with the injury putting his status for the 2025-26 season in jeopardy.
Despite the injury, Haliburton wrote, ‘I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special.’
When did Tyrese Haliburton get hurt in Game 7?
A little more than seven minutes into the first quarter of Game 7, Haliburton sustained the Achilles injury. It was a non-contact injury, and after Haliburton fell to the court, his emotional reaction – Haliburton slapped the floor and appeared to shake his head and repeatedly shout ‘no’ – hinting at its severity.
He had scored nine points in the game prior to the injury.
Haliburton had been dealing with a right calf strain that he sustained during Game 5. He had been listed as questionable heading into Games 6 and 7, but managed to start each.
(This story was updated to add more information.)
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